The 20 best movie performances of 2024

Demi Moore was one of the biggest stars of Hollywood in the ‘80s and ‘90s, and rose back to prominence in 2024 thanks to her turn in body-horror flick The Substance. She plays Elisabeth Sparkle, a fading and aging celebrity who starts taking a black-market drug to create a younger and better version of herself. Moore fully embraces the squeamish and unsavory nature of the role that comments on standards in Hollywood. It makes for one heck of a comeback. 

Wicked was one of the most popular movies of 2024, finally bringing the beloved Broadway musical to the big screen. It follows the origin story of the Wicked Witch, Elphaba, who befriends Glinda at Shiz University in the Land of Oz. The role of Elphaba is a huge one, and Cynthia Erivo was the perfect choice to fill those massive shoes. Erivo gets to showcase her phenomenal vocals (which really do defy gravity) while also bringing emotional depth to Elphaba.

Ralph Fiennes is a veteran of the film industry, having delivered a number of exceptional performances over the years and starring as Voldemort in the Harry Potter films. However, his best turn yet is in the riveting political thriller Conclave. He plays Cardinal Lawrence, who is tasked with orchestrating the selection of a new pope. Fiennes is impeccable as a man grappling with his own faith, conveying many mixed emotions with nuance and power.

Winner of the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, Anora is one of the most acclaimed films of 2024, and that is primarily thanks to Mikey Madison’s revelatory performance. Madison plays the titular Anora, a sex worker from Brooklyn who meets and impulsively marries the son of an oligarch. Madison stuns in her confident and daring turn, making her one of the year’s most notable rising stars. Expect her to become a big name in the near future. 

For such a young actor, Timothée Chalamet has built up one impressive filmography, which he expands with A Complete Unknown . The biopic tells the story of legendary musician Bob Dylan, played by Chalamet, who goes from being an unknown nineteen-year-old to one of America’s biggest cultural icons. Chalamet completely disappears into the role of Dylan, bringing him to life in an electric and uncanny way. He also does all his own singing in the film, proving just how multi-talented he is. 

Cynthia Erivo’s performance as Elphaba in Wicked is complemented by the brilliant Ariana Grande as Glinda. Glinda is the popular girl at Shiz University who loves everything pink and is adored by those around her. In her first major movie role, Grande is effortlessly funny, with perfect comedic timing and energy as the ditzy Glinda. Her incredible vocals, which audiences were already very well aware of, are elevated by her genuinely joyful and entertaining performance.

Speak No Evil, an American remake of the 2022 Danish film of the same name, could have early been another cheap Hollywood retelling and cash grab. However, the film pleasantly surprised audiences, mainly due to the terrifying performance of James McAvoy. He plays Paddy, one-half of a couple who invites an American couple to stay with them after meeting on holiday. McAvoy delivers the perfect blend of toxic masculinity and derangement to create something horrifying.

Pamela Anderson was a sex symbol of the ‘90s thanks to her role in Baywatch, but has unfortunately been typecast and objectified as a result. She breaks free of this mold in The Last Showgirl, directed by Gia Coppola. Anderson plays a seasoned showgirl who must plan for her future after her show abruptly closes. The actress is finally given the rich, dramatic material she deserves, and she delivers on all accounts. You’ve never seen Anderson quite like this. 

The First Omen is a prequel to the classic ‘70s horror film The Omen, which focuses on the birth of the demonic Damien and his origins. Newcomer Nell Tiger Free plays Margaret, a young woman about to begin a life of service to the church, who discovers the conspiracy around the birth of an evil intricate. Free impresses in a role that demands much of her both emotionally and physically, and she is fearless. She is able to create and convey genuine terror simultaneously. 

Directed by Jackie and Spencer filmmaker Pablo Larraín, Maria is a biopic that tells the reimagined story of Maria Callas, the world’s greatest female opera singer, during her final days in 1970s Paris. Jolie delivers one of her best performances in a long time as the tragic singer who led a glamorous but tumultuous life. It’s an understated portrayal and character study that is deeply sad and moving. Archival recordings of Callas are flawlessly combined with Jolie’s own trained vocals.

Lee tells the true story of American photographer Lee Miller, a fashion model turned war correspondent for Vogue magazine during World War II. Kate Winslet has been around for decades, and is without a doubt one of the best actresses of our generation. Even after all these years, she continues to break ground with her work, and does so through her raw and gritty performance as Miller. Winslet has never been less glamorous, and as a result, has never been better.

Emilia Pérez is a bold and ambitious musical-thriller hybrid that boasts awards-worthy performances from big stars like Zoe Saldana and Selena Gomez. However, it is newcomer Karla Sofía Gascón who steals the spotlight as the titular character. Emilia is a cartel leader who hires a lawyer to help fake her death and transition to living as a woman. Gascón is the heart and soul of the film, and is very much able to hold her own against Saldana and Gomez.

Hugh Grant has always been known for his status as a charming romcom leading man, but the British actor takes a dark and unexpected turn in A24’s religious horror film Heretic. Grant plays Mr. Reed, a twisted man who traps two young missionaries in his home and subjects them to a deadly game of cat and mouse. Grant is wonderfully wicked as he plays against type and proves to audiences that he can do much more than romcoms. It makes for one of the most welcome surprises of the year.

Sebastian Stan has been entertaining audiences as Bucky Barnes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for some time now, but the actor really showcases his versatility and dramatic range in A24’s surreal dark comedy A Different Man . Stan plays an aspiring actor who undergoes an extreme medical procedure to change his appearance, but things don’t go to plan. Along with playing Donald Trump in The Apprentice, 2024 really has been the year of Sebastian Stan. 

Ridley Scott’s Gladiator, released in 2000, is one of the greatest historical epics ever to hit our screens. Twenty-four years later, Scott followed it up with Gladiator II, a very belated and surprising sequel. While the film has received mixed reviews, everybody can agree on one thing: Denzel Washington rocks in it. He plays Marcrinus, a businessman raising an army of gladiators. He elevates every scene he is in and is clearly having a lot of fun doing it.

Colman Domingo is an actor who has been on the scene for some time now but has only truly started getting the recognition he deserves in the last few years. His winning streak continues in the powerful drama Sing Sing, playing an innocent prisoner who joins and performs in a theater group made up of other incarcerated men. Starring alongside previously incarcerated actors, Domingo holds it all together beautifully in a highly moving and career-best performance.

Kieran Culkin has been impressing audiences as Roman Roy is Succession for the last several years, and his versatility and captivating screen presence is on display once more in A Real Pain. Culkin stars alongside director Jesse Eisenberg as mismatched cousins Benji and David, who reunite and tour Poland to honor their grandmother. Kulkin expertly balances comedy and drama to create an empathetic performance that will have viewers both laughing and crying. 

Josh Hartnett was the ultimate heartthrob of the ‘90s, and made a comeback in 2024 with his sinister turn in M. Night Shyamalan’s Trap. Hartnett plays Cooper, a dad who takes his daughter to a concert where police are hunting for a serial killer: him. Cooper is a calculated individual who is always one step ahead of the police, and Hartnett perfectly encapsulates his confidence. He manages to make a psychopath somewhat ‘charming’, making his performance all the more unnerving. 

Smile 2 is the follow-up to 2022’s surprise horror hit Smile, and its sequel is bigger and better in every sense. This is mostly thanks to honorary new scream queen Naomi Scott, who completely owns the movie. Scott plays pop star Skye Riley, who is haunted by the same creeping smile as she tries to embark on a world tour. Scott acts, sings, dances and screams to perfection, delivering a maddening and nerve-fueled performance as somebody experiencing extreme hysteria.

One of the very best performances of the year comes from 21-year-old Maisy Stella, who has cemented herself as a young actor to watch after leading the film My Old Ass . Stella plays Elliot, who goes on a mushroom trip when she turns eighteen. Here, she comes face to face with the older version of herself. Working alongside the wonderful Aubrey Plaza, Stella is ridiculously likable and endearing in this coming-of-age tale, proving that she has a lot more to offer.